Wyatt Aamodt's Biography

Based in Loveland, Colorado, the Colorado Eagles are a professional minor league ice hockey team that has carved out a reputation for itself in ice hockey circuits for its commendable performance. This team features in the Pacific Division of the American Hockey League.

Initially, the Colorado Eagles emerged as an expansion franchise in the Central Hockey League in 2003. However, they remained associated with this league until June 2011, post which they joined the ECHL. Now, they are a regular part of the American Hockey League since the 2018-2019 season as the affiliate of NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.

The team made considerable strides during their time in the CHL, winning several titles that include two Ray Miron President’s Cups, three regular season titles, five conference titles, and six division titles, all achieved in eight seasons. Ralph Backstrom, the former Montreal Canadiens player, is credited with founding the franchise in 2003.

Since their inception, the Colorado Eagles have consistently performed commendably, qualifying for the playoffs in their debut season. The 2004-2005 season saw them winning the CHL championship. Despite narrowly losing in the playoffs’ second round to the Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs in the 2005-06 season, the Eagles marked another triumph in the CHL Championship in the 2006-07 season by vanquishing the Laredo Bucks four games to two in the Cup Finals.

The Eagles underwent multiple changes in the coaching sphere as well. After the 2007-2008 season, coach Chris Stewart retired, paving the way for Kevin McClelland. However, two years later, McClelland was not retained, leading to Stewart’s return as the head coach. This period also saw the Eagles hosting the 2009 CHL All-Star Game, where they scored a remarkable 8-4 win against CHL All-Stars.

Moving to the 2011 Ray Miron President’s Cup playoffs, rumours were rife about the Eagles’ move to the ECHL. The speculations bore fruit when the team announced their acceptance as an expansion franchise in the ECHL for the 2011-12 season. In August 2011, the Eagles were assigned to the Western Conference’s Mountain Division as part of the realignment of the 2011-12 ECHL season.

Throughout their journey in the ECHL, the Eagles kept changing their affiliations. They emerged as the second-tier affiliate of NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and AHL’s St. John’s IceCaps until the end of the 2012-13 hockey season. Later, they became affiliated with the Calgary Flames and Adirondack Flames during the 2014-15 season. Changes ensued in the coaching department as well when Chris Stewart retired for the second time from his coaching duties in July 2016 but continued his association with the team as a general manager.

In their first season with the Avalanche affiliation, the Eagles exceeded expectations by finishing second in the Mountain Division of the ECHL and winning the Kelly Cup as the 2017 playoffs champions. They triumphed once more in the Kelly Cup playoffs championship in the 2017-18 season.

Interestingly, the birth of the Vegas Golden Knights led to a ripple effect in the NHL, culminating in talks about creating a 31st team in the American Hockey League. The owners and managers of the Eagles grabbed the opportunity by initiating discussions with the Avalanche, leading to their promotion to the AHL in 2018.

Although a relatively small team in media terms, the Eagles have drawn attention multiple times. One milestone achievement was their contract with Altitude Sports and Entertainment in 2004 to broadcast their games.

The Colorado Eagles have been continuously performing impressively, with their numerous championship titles being testament to their prowess on the ice. As they continue their journey, they remain a notable name among professional minor league ice hockey teams, thanks to their dedication, talent, and will to excel.